Wegmans: No price hikes for salmon, tilapia, tuna

Wegmans Food Markets on Tuesday pledged not to increase prices of 40 key food items, including seafood, this year, despite rising commodity and fuel costs.

The 40 food items — which cover about 200 SKUs (stock keeping units) — include salmon, tilapia and tuna, and nearly all are Wegmans brand products.

“Costs for many of these products have risen and may continue to rise over the next nine months. If retail prices reflected the true cost of goods, it would mean an additional USD 350 to USD 400 annually for a family of four,” said Wegmans President Colleen Wegman.

“We can be more aggressive with pricing for our own brand because we have better access to information on the factors that determine costs,” added Jo Natale, Wegmans’ director of media relations. “These products are already the best value in their respective category, and for that reason, they are also usually the top-selling brand in a category.”

On Sunday, Wegmans will run a print ad that says: At Wegmans, we’re very concerned that rising food prices will cause budget difficulties for many of our customers.  All of our efforts will be toward keeping our prices low and our quality and service high. “With that, we commit that the 40 products in this ad will not change price through the end of 2011. That’s what we mean by consistent low prices. We hope this helps you and your family in planning your weekly food budget. “And, we will do our best to keep price increases on other products to a minimum. As always, we are committed to keeping low prices on the items most important to families.”

The Rochester, N.Y.-based retailer operates 77 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland. The company will open its first New England store later this year in Northborough, Mass.

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